How to Prep for the Snow Before it Falls

It’s that time of year again. The days are getting shorter, the thermostat’s getting colder, and the snow is getting ready to fall. You’re going to need to know how to stay safe and warm in the cold. Here’s how to prepare for a blizzard at home.

“Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind. Samuel” - Taylor Coleridge

Indoor Home Prep

First off, you’re going to want to start with the inside of your home. This means checking out your window sills, doors, and attic for breezes or drafts. You should also schedule your heating system for a tune-up to make sure everything is working properly. Preparing home for winter starts with the interior of your house.

Heating Fuel

The main ingredient in making sure you don’t freeze during the winter is with adequate heating. It’s a very critical component for staying warm. So make sure your system is working correctly. If it isn’t, hire a pro to fix it up or just tune it up to optimal settings.

Insulation

No matter how you do it, spray, batts, or loose-fill, it's important to insulate. Source: US news

Equally important in terms of saving money, making sure your home is insulated will keep your heating system running optimally and stop your heating bills from rising. Proper insulation will make sure that any cracks or drafts in your home are sealed up and your heating is worthing at as close to 100% efficiency as possible.

Otherwise be sure that your house has a few emergency items in case you get snowed in. It helps to have a plan or to what to do during an ice storm. After all, most people would rather be snowed in their home than probably anywhere else. Here’s our storm preparedness checklist:

Backup generator

Carbon monoxide detectors

Ceiling fans set to reverse

Blankets

Board games

Crank flashlight

Exterior House Prep

Besides removing snow, there’s a lot to be done around the outside of your home. Preparing home for winter involves clearing out what needs to be cleared and keeping the right equipment on hand. Be sure to have the following items on standby in case of an emergency:

Ice melt

Shovels

Snow blower

Ice pick

Roof rake

Prevent Ice Dams

The key to preventing ice dams is to clear out your gutters before the snow hits. Freeing your gutters of any leaves, twigs, or debris is essentially to protecting the structural integrity of your roof. Otherwise the heat from the attic can cause just a tiny amount of snow or ice to melt where it meets the roof. This in turn freezes over into your gutter, effectively blocking the flow. So it’s best to make sure your gutters are clear before a storm hits.

WInterize faucets

Another important part of making sure your pipes work okay is shutting off the exterior faucets. This is part of winterizing your home. You need to do this to ensure that your piping doesn’t freeze in certain areas or worse, burst.

Emergency Supplies

What’s also a really handy idea is to make a storm preparedness kit. This should include the basic survival items, as well as some comfort care. The most important items will be anything that illuminates the room in case you lose power. Second will be blankets and clothing that allow you to stay warm in case you lose heat.

First aid kit

Flashlight

Blankets

Extra batteries

Emergency radio

Car Safety

Finally, you’ll want to be sure that you’re safe in case you get trapped in your car. While having a cell phone and appropriate attire will certainly make a difference, there are also some items you should keep in your trunk. Here are some other things to watch out for:

Winter box

Antifreeze

Tire pressure

WIndshield wiper fluid

Any winter snowfall tips you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook for more great tips and inspiration!